While the mention of radiation exposure may evoke a certain sense of risk for some people , others may not realize the many ways in which they can be exposed and the harmful health effects it can cause . Studies have shown that some health care providers working in environments with high levels of radiation may not fully know what radiation is and the negative health effects it can cause . They may not know how the personal protective equipment that they wear actually works or how effective it is in protecting them . So , if some health care providers are not aware of the health risks from exposure to radiation in the operating room even when they must wear protective equipment against those exposures , the expectation that lay people will understand is unreasonable .
People are exposed to radiation from the sun when they walk outside , from radon decay in their houses , from various occupational hazards , and likely many other sources which are still unknown . Healthcare providers need to comprehensively evaluate their patients ’ health including a thorough evaluation of radiation exposure risk . Though family history is important to the long term health of a patient , this is not the only factor providers should consider when evaluating risk . Occupational and residential risks should also be considered .
Physicians should ask patients if they have ever had their homes tested for radon , and inquire about the occupational risk of exposure to radiation in order to assess the risk of cancer and other radiation related health effects such as cataracts . But how can doctors properly start this conversation without a knowledge of the subject ? A study conducted on University of British Columbia medical students ’ knowledge of radiation and its harmful effects on the body showed , “ variability in the knowledge of radiation risks and doses [ is associated with ] area of specialty and years of experience .” Those students in radiology fields were most likely to be aware of these risks . But , radiologists are not the only medical professionals that deal with radiation and its effects on the body . Though they do treat patients exposed to high levels of radiation , they do not assess other areas of exposure . It is the job of a primary care physician and other specialty physicians to be aware of and to manage possible effects on the body from life exposures to radiation . In the case of radiation induced cataracts , optometrists and ophthalmologists need to assess patients ’ risks of residential and occupational exposures , and recommend that patients take precautions to avoid medical complications later in life .
Without ample knowledge of radiation and its long term effects on the body , healthcare providers cannot provide the necessary resources and care to their patients . This is a flaw in the medical education system , so what can we do about it ?
Integrating lessons into the medical school and undergraduate pre‐medical school curricula allows the new generation of doctors to have this knowledge , but when it comes to